Week 6: Visual Writing - Research and Curate
Research Task:
Is Social Media Bad For You? Article Review
In this weeks task I have chosen an article by the BBC questioning the effects Social Media has on the human mind.
For an author to effectively pitch this idea to a editor, the author would of had to break down the article into several key points of the piece.
Relevance and timing of the topic would be crucial. With technology in social media continuously growing, there are widespread concerns about it’s impact on mental health, the author might frame this as a pressing issue in society.
“With social media playing such a big part in our lives, could we be sacrificing our mental health and well-being as well as our time? What does the evidence actually suggest?”(Brown, J. 2022)
In addition to this they would also emphasise the engaging angle of the piece, focusing on the emotional impacts of social media use like envy and loneliness. By making the topic relatable to a lot of readers, the author can capture readers' attention more.
“It’s clear that in many areas, not enough is known yet to draw many strong conclusions. However, the evidence does point one way: social media affects people differently, depending on pre-existing conditions and personality traits.
As with food, gambling and many other temptations of the modern age, excessive use for some individuals is probably inadvisable. But at the same time, it would be wrong to say social media is a universally bad thing, because clearly it brings myriad benefits to our lives.”(Brown,J. 2022)
Finally, the author would consider differing opinions, acknowledging both the negative effects of social media and its potential benefits. This approach would resonate with readers seeking a balanced discussion.
Reference:
• Brown, J. (2022) Is social media bad for you? the evidence and the unknowns, BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for-you-the-evidence-and-the-unknowns (Accessed: 07 April 2024).
